Federal indictment charges two more people in connection with deadly attempted bank robbery in Cairo

Two more people have been charged in connection with a deadly 2014 attempted bank robbery in Cairo, Illinois.

A seven-count, superseding federal indictment filed March 7 in U.S. District Court in Southern Illinois charges Otha Don Watkins III of Cairo with aiding and abetting an armed bank robbery resulting in death, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, making a false statement and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The indictment charges Sharita S. Tipler, 30, of Ullin, Illinois, with transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person.

The other two counts in the indictment charge Janes Nathaniel Watts, 32, of Cairo with armed bank robbery resulting in death and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He is accused of possessing a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Watts has been in custody since he was arrested May 15, 2014, the day of the attempted bank heist at the First National Bank in Cairo.

A change of plea hearing has been scheduled for Watts, who prosecutors said stabbed to death bank branch president Anita Grace and bank employee Nita Smith on May 15, 2014.

Another employee was injured during the botched robbery.

Watts previously pleaded not guilty to all charges connected with the robbery attempt.

The hearing for Watts is scheduled for Thursday in U.S. District Court in Benton, Illinois. His trial is scheduled to begin June 19.

Watts was arrested shortly after the robbery following a high-speed chase and a two-hour standoff near a railroad trestle spanning the Ohio River.

The grand-jury indictment states Watkins was with Watts the day of the robbery.

The indictment alleges he made a false statement to FBI special agent Isaac A. Bratcher on the day of the robbery, telling the agent he last saw Watts on May 10 or May 11, 2014, and he left Cairo and visited Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

The indictment also states on or about May 12, 2014, Watkins conspired with Watts to rob a McDonald’s restaurant at Charleston, Missouri.

The two men planned the robbery at Watkins’ residence in Cairo, according to the court document.

The indictment states the two men drove to the McDonald’s in Charleston.

Watkins is alleged to have waited in the vehicle as Watts “brandished a firearm” and entered the restaurant.

He is accused of robbing the restaurant and stealing an employee’s vehicle.

The indictment alleges Watts abandoned the stolen vehicle on the way back to Cairo, and Watkins picked up Watts.

The two men drove back to Cairo, “where they split the proceeds from the robbery,” the indictment states.

Tipler is alleged to have transferred a Ruger 9 mm pistol to Watkins from May 15, 2014, to May 17, 2014, while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe Watkins had been convicted of a crime punishable by a prison term exceeding one year in violation of federal code.

Watkins is in custody, according to a news release from federal prosecutor Donald S. Boyce for the Southern District of Illinois.

Watkins is scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Benton on March 21, according to the news release.

Tipler was arrested and is in custody.

A bond hearing for Tipler is scheduled for today in federal court in Benton.

The FBI, Illinois State Police and other law-enforcement agencies conducted the investigation, according to the release.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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